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CONSTITUTIONS 

AND 

(general l^egulatioas 

OF THE 

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. 


SnVRRFTflN r T RANn f.nN'RTRTnR Y. 



AND 


SUPREME COUNCIL, 1807, 

FOB THE 

UNITED STATES, OF AMERICA, 

ITS* * 

territories and Dependencies, 

AS REVISED . AND APPROVED 
762, 1807, 1862, '1888, 1886 and 1893. 


























HS 766 
. A3 
1893 
Copy 1 



THIRTY-THIRD AND LAST DEGREE 


OF THE 

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masonry, 

AS ORGANIZED BY 

T.\ l.\ JOSEPH CERNEAU, M.\ P.\ S.\ G.\ C.\, 

October 27, 1807, 

FOR THE 

United States of America, Its Territories and Dependencies. 


Most Illustrious WHEELER CABLE, 33 0 

Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander, Boston, Mass. 

Very Illustrious GEORGE DAVIS, 33 0 , 

Puissant Lieutenant Grand Commander, Charleston, W. Va. 

Very Illustrious ELIAS H. BARTLEY, M.D., 33 0 , 

Grand Orator and Minister of State, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Very Illustrious WM. H. SUTTON, 33 0 , 

Grand Secretary General H.\ E.\, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Very Illustrious JOHN H. RUSSELL, 33 0 , 

Grand Treasurer General H.\ E.\, New York, N. Y. 

Very Illustrious CORNELIUS H. BENSON, 33 0 , 

Grand Marshal General, Jersey City, N. J. 

Very Illustrious JAMES L. WATSON, 33 0 , 

Grand Master General of Ceremonies, Lexington, Ky. 

Very Illustrious GEORGE R. COFFROTH, 33 0 , 

Grand Standard Bearer, Baltimore, Md. 

Very Illustrious JOHN P. STEFFNER, 33 0 , 

Grand Captain of the Guard, Chattanooga, Tenn. 


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Universi Orbis Terrarum Architectonis Magni ad Gloriam. 

Deus Meumque Jus. Or do Ab Chao. 

From the East of the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-Third 
and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite as Organized by M.- Ill.- Joseph 
Cemeau, 33°, in the year 1807, V.-. E.\ for the United States of America, its Terri¬ 
tories and Dependencies, Under the C.\ C.\ of the Z.\ answering to 
40 deg. - . 43 min.-. N.\ L.\ and 74 deg. - . W.\ 
of the Meridian at Greenwich, 

Grand Orient of New York. 


OFFICIAL DECLARATION. 

UNION. CONTENTMENT. WISDOM. 

To all regularly constituted Supreme Councils; to all Sovereign 
Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third and Last Degree; 
to all Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Knights of Kado sch, 
Ineffable and Sublime Masons of the Ancient and Accepted 
Scottish Rite; to all Free and Accepted Masons of all degrees, 
over the surface of the two hemispheres ,— 

Greeting : 

Know ye, that the members of the Supreme Council of the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory of Sovereign Grand Inspectors 
General, Thirty-third and I v ast Degree, of the Ancient and 
Accepted Scottish Rite Masonry, for the United States of America, 
its Territories and Dependencies, emphatically assert that they 
neither have, nor claim power or authority over Symbolic, 
Capitular, Cryptic, or Templar Masonry ; but do solemnly 
reiterate the declaration, that the Sovereign Grand Inspectors 
General, by virtue of the power in them vested, through their 
legal, and direct descent from the Supreme Council and Sovereign 
Grand Consistory, established by Ill.'. Joseph Cerneau, 33 0 , in 
the City of New York, in the year 1807, Constitutionally claim 
exclusive Masonic jurisdiction throughout the United States of 
America, its Territories and Dependencies, over the degrees of 
the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, to-wit: 

Fourth Degree —Secret Master. 

Fifth Degree —Perfect Master. 

Sixth Degree —Intimate Secretary. 

Seventh Degree —Provost and Judge. 

Eighth Degree— Intendant of the Building. 

Ninth Dfgree— Elect of Nine. 

Tenth Degree —Knight Elect of Fifteen. 

Eleventh Degree— Sublime Knight Elected. 

Twelfth Degree —Grand Master Architect. 

Thirteenth Degree —King Solomon’s Royal Arch. 

Fourteenth Degree— Grand, Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason. 

Fifteenth Degree— Knight of the East or Sword. 

Sixteenth Degree -Prince of Jerusalem. 

Seventeenth Degree— Knight of the East and West. 

Eighteenth Degree— Sovereign Prince of the Rose Croix. 

Nineteenth Degree —Grand Pontiff. 

Twentieth Degree —Master Ad Vitum. 

Twenty first Degree— Patriarch Noachite. 

Twenty-second Degree —Prince of Libanus. 

Twenty-third Degree —Chief of the Tabernacle. 

Twenty-fourth Degree— Prince of the Tabernacle. 

Twenty-fifth Degree —Knight of the Brazen Serpent. 

Twenty-sixth Degree— Prince of Mercy. 




OFFICIAL DECLARATION. 


Twenty-Seventh Degree— Commander of the Temple. 

Twenty-Eighth Degree— Knight of the Sun. 

Twenty-Ninth Degree —Patriarch of the Crusades. 

Thirtieth Degree —Grand Elect K-h ; or Knight of the White and Black Eagle. 

Thirty-first Degree —Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander. 

Thirty-second Degree —Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. 

Thirty-third and Last Degree (Official)— Sovereign Grand Inspector General. 

Being pledged to preserve these degrees of the Ancient and 
Accepted Scottish Rite, pure and inviolate, and from all unlawful 
and spurious intermixture, or associations, we feel constrained, 
most unequivocally, to renew former declarations, and solemnly 
denounce as unlawful and unconstitutional, and protest against 
the acts and pretensions of all other bodies under whatever name 
or title they may exist, claiming to exercise or control authority 
over the above-named degrees within the limits of the United 
States of America, its Territories and Dependencies; we further 
declare that the Sovereign Grand Consistory and its Supreme 
Council, and the various bodies under their authority, require no 
other qualification in candidates for the degrees of the Ancient 
Accepted Scottish Rite, except that they ‘ ‘ Be good men and 
true,” and have been regularly initiated in the first three de¬ 
grees of Symbolic Masonry, and are Master Masons in good and 
regular standing. 

We also, recognizing the fact that our Ancient and Sublime 
Order has always sustained itself in honor and credit, by the 
wisdom and prudence of its Constitutions ; duly considering the 
progress of the races, and the advance of Toleration and Civil¬ 
ization, and being mindful of the great principles contained in the 
Constitutions of 1762, 1807, 1862, 1883 and 1886, deem it advisa¬ 
ble, in connection therewith, to make such reformatory altera¬ 
tions as are suitable and fitting to the times in which we live. 

Therefore, after mature deliberation, we hereby ordain, 
establish and decree the following as 


THE 


Grand Constitutions 


AND 


GENERAL REGULATIONS 


FOR THE 


Government and Control of all the Bodies of the Ancient and 
Accepted Scottish Rite of the Thirty-third and Last Degree, 
and of those Subordinate Thereto in the United 
States of America, Its Territories and Depen¬ 
dencies, and that the Same Shall be Pro¬ 
mulgated to All and Everybody 
Under Our Obedience. 



Most III:. WHEELER CABLE, 


M.*. P.*. Sov. *. Grand Commander. 



Attest : 



Very III:. WM. H. SUTTON, 33°, 


Grand Sec.*. Gen.*. H.*. E.*. and K.*. O.*. S.*. & A.*. 
































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CONSTITUTION 


TITLE I. 

ARTICLE I. 

The government of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite 
for the United States of America, its Territories and Depend¬ 
encies, is vested in the Sovereign Grand Consistory and its 
Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, 
Thirty-third and Last Degree. 

ARTICLE II. 

The Sovereign Grand Consistory is composed of its Officers, 
Members Emeriti, and each Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 
Thirty-third Degree, while he remains a member in good standing 
of a Subordinate Consistory under its jurisdiction. 

ARTICLE III. 

The Supreme Council is composed of the nine elective offi¬ 
cers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The members Emeriti of the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
are: First—All Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, Thirty- 
third Degree, who have heretofore been declared members Emeriti 
of the Supreme Council. Second—All members of the Supreme 
Council, who, having faithfully performed their duties as such, 
during the term for which they were elected, and shall by a two- 
thirds vote of the Sovereign Grand Consistory be declared en¬ 
titled to that honor. 



8 


The Grand Constitutions 


ARTICLE V. 

A Subordinate Consistory is composed of twenty-seven or 
more Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Thirty-second Degree, 
congregating and working in pursuance and by virtue of a 
Charter held under the authority of the Sovereign Grand Con¬ 
sistory. 


TITLE II. 

SOVEREIGN GRAND CONSISTORY. 


ARTICLE I. 

The powers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory are : execu¬ 
tive, legislative, and judicial. The exercise of these powers is 
defined in the Constitution and General Regulations, which it has 
the right to frame and adopt at its own convenience, and to alter, 
amend, add to or repeal., at its pleasure, under the limitations 
therein imposed; and are final and conclusive upon all parties 
concerned, until altered or reversed by the Sovereign Grand 
Consistory. 

ARTICLE II. 

The officers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory shall be 
styled and take rank as follows : 

1. The Most Illustrious Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander. 

2. The Very Illustrious Puissant Lieutenant Grand Commander. 

3. The Very Illustrious Grand Orator and Minister of State. 

4. The Very Illustrious Grand Chancellor, Grand Secretary General of the 

Holy Empire, and Keeper of the Seals and Archives. 

5. The Very Illustrious Grand Treasurer General of the Holy Empire. 

6. The Very Illustrious Grand Marshal General. 

7. The Very Illustrious Grand Master General of Ceremonies. 

8. The Very Illustrious Grand Standard Bearer. 

9. The Very Illustrious Grand Captain of the Guard. 

10. The Illustrious Grand Seneschal. 

11. The Illustrious Grand Sentinel. 



and General Regulations. 


9 


ARTICLE III. 

The first nine officers shall be elected by ballot for a term 
of three years, as follows : 

The Grand Marshal General, Grand Standard Bearer and 
Grand Captain of the Guard, at the annual Rendezvous in 1887. 

The Puissant Lieutenant Grand Commander, Grand Orator 
and Minister of State, and Grand Secretary General H.\ E.\, at 
the annual Rendezvous in 1888. 

The Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander, Grand 
Treasurer General H.\ E.\, and Grand Master General of Cere¬ 
monies, at the annual Rendezvous in 1889. 

At each subsequent annual Rendezvous of the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory, there shall be elected by ballot three officers 
for a term of three years, in place of those whose terms of 
office expire at such date. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The Grand Seneschal and Grand Sentinel shall be appointed 
by the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander at the time of 
his installation, to serve during his will and pleasure. 

ARTICLE V. 

The legislative powers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
extend to every case of legislation not delegated or reserved to 
subordinate bodies. 

ARTICLE VI. 

The Sovereign Grand Consistory shall hold a stated rendez¬ 
vous annually. In case of great emergency the Supreme 
Council, by the affirmative vote of five of its members, may 
order a special rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, 
but no business shall be transacted at such special rendezvous 
except that for which it was called, and every member shall 
receive at least fifteen days’ notice of the same. 

ARTICLE VII. 

The annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
may be held in any city within the United States which may 
have been selected at the previous rendezvous. 


IO 


The Grand Constitutions 


ARTICLE VIII. 

Every Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third 
Degree, being a member in good standing of a Subordinate Con¬ 
sistory under this jurisdiction, is a member of the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory, entitled to all rights and privileges therein, 
and shall be so declared at his making. 

ARTICLE IX. 

No one shall be a member of the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
unless he shall have attained the grade of Sovereign Grand In¬ 
spector General, Thirty-third Degree. 

ARTICLE X. 

The Board of Trustees of the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
shall be composed of five members, the first three of whom shall 
be the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander, the Puissant 
Lieutenant Grand Commander and the Grand Orator and Minister 
of State; the other two shall be members of the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory, who hold no other official position therein, 
and who shall be elected by ballot annually. All surplus funds 
belonging to the Sovereign Grand Consistory shall be placed in 
the custody of this Board of Trustees, and by them, under the 
direction of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, securely invested. 
At each annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
there shall also be placed in the custody of the Board of Trustees 
a duplicate copy of the registry, records and proceedings of the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory and its Supreme Council, appertain¬ 
ing to the transactions of the preceding year. The Board of 
Trustees shall also have in custody all books, documents, etc., 
belonging to the Sovereign Grand Consistory and its Supreme 
Council, and not needed by the officers in the daily routine of 
business. It shall be the duty of the Board, under direction of 
the Sovereign Grand Consistory, to cause all books, documents, 
registry, records and proceedings as above referred to, to be safe¬ 
ly deposited in the vault or vaults of some safe deposit company, 
and the same shall be so deposited that they cannot be removed ex¬ 
cept in the presence of a majority of the Board of Trustees. 


and General Regulations. 11 

ARTICLE XI. 

The Sovereign Grand Consistory has original jurisdiction 
over all controversies which may arise between Subordinate Con¬ 
sistories or individual members of different Subordinate Consis¬ 
tories ; it also has original jurisdiction over all controversies be¬ 
tween Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, thirty-third degree ; 
also, unaffiliated Scottish Rite Masons who have subscribed to its 
oath of fealty. The appellate judicial powers of the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory embrace all matters of controversy and discip¬ 
line over which it has or has not original jurisdiction. In all 
cases of controversy or discipline, the party aggrieved at the 
decision of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, is entitled to a final 
appeal to the Supreme Council. 

ARTICLE XII. 

A Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third Degree, 
can be tried only by his peers ; and all charges against him for 
un-masonic conduct must be preferred to the Supreme Council. 
On receipt of such charges the Sovereign Grand Commander 
shall, as soon as convenient, call a meeting of the Supreme 
Council, when the charges shall be thoroughly examined, and if 
the Supreme Council, by a majority vote, decides that said 
charges are well founded and ought to be further investigated, 
the Sovereign Grand Commander shall thereupon suspend the 
accused from the exercise of all official duties. He shall also im¬ 
mediately appoint a commission composed of three Sovereign 
Grand Inspectors General. The accused may object to either or 
all of such commissioners, giving his reasons therefor, and the 
Supreme Council shall approve of such original appointments, or 
substitute others in place of such commissioners. The commis¬ 
sion shall thereupon appoint a time and place convenient to the 
accuser and accused, giving each, at least, thirty days notice, and 
shall summon them and such witnesses as either party may re¬ 
quest. At the appointed time the commission shall meet and 
take evidence as to .the guilt or innocence of the accused, 
giving both accuser and accused ample opportunity to be repre¬ 
sented by counsel, who must be a Sovereign Grand Inspector 


12 


The Grand Constitutions 


General. After all the evidence has been heard, the commission 
shall meet and determine its conclusions thereon and report the 
same, with such recommendations as it may deem necessary, to 
the Sovereign Grand Commander, who shall cause said report to 
be presented to the Sovereign Grand Consistory at the first 
rendezvous thereafter. The Sovereign Grand Consistory, having 
permitted both accuser and accused to appear before it and plead, 
either in person or by counsel, shall, by a two-thirds vote, decide 
as to the guilt or innocence of the accused ; and, if he be found 
guilty, inflict the penalty which shall be definite or indefinite sus¬ 
pension or expulsion. If the commission or the Sovereign Grand 
Consistory shall determine the accused to be innocent of the 
alleged offense, the Sovereign Grand Commander shall immediate¬ 
ly issue his proclamation relieving the accused from the previous¬ 
ly imposed suspension. If the accused be found guilty of the 
offense he shall have the right to appeal to the Supreme Council, 
as provided for in Article XI. of Title II., and in the General 
Regulations. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

Every Subordinate Consistory shall be represented in the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory by its Commander-in-Chief, who, in 
addition to his vote as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 
Thirty-third Degree, shall be entitled to cast one vote for each 
fifty, or major portion of fifty members exceeding the first fifty, 
whose names shall appear upon the rolls of his Subordinate Con¬ 
sistory, at its annual rendezvous next preceding a rendezvous of 
the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

No member of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, other than 
its officers or members Emeriti, shall be entitled to vote at an 
Annual Rendezvous unless all moneys due the Sovereign Grand 
Consistory by the Subordinate Consistory to which he belongs 
shall have been paid. 

ARTICLE XV. 

Section i.—A Commander-in-Chief of a Subordinate Con¬ 
sistory being unable to attend a rendezvous of the Sovereign 


and General Regulations. 13 

Grand Consistory, may appoint a proxy to represent him at 
such rendezvous. 

Section 2.—A proxy must be a Sovereign Grand Inspector 
General, Thirty-third Degree, and a member in good standing of 
the same Subordinate Consistory as the Commander-in-Chief 
whom he represents. 

* Section 3. —The appointment of a proxy must be over the 
signature, and the name of the appointee must be in the hand¬ 
writing of the Commander-in-Chief entitled to make the ap¬ 
pointment, attested by the Grand Secretary, together with the 
seal of the Subordinate Consistory entitled to be thus represented, 
and placed in the custody of the Grand Secretary General H. \ 
E. prior to the opening of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

Section 4.—A proxy thus duly appointed shall have power 
to cast the votes in the Sovereign Grand Consistory to which 
the Commander-in-Chief making the appointment would be 
entitled if he were present. 

ARTICLE XVI. 

An officer of the Sovereign Grand Consistory is entitled to 
vote therein ; but during the occupancy of said official position, 
forfeits the right to vote to which he was entitled by virtue of 
being a Sovereign Grand Inspector General. 


TITLE III. 

SUPREME COUNCIL. 

ARTICLE I. 

The powers of the Supreme Council are executive and j udi- 

cial. 

ARTICLE II. 

All the executive powers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, 
when not in session, are reposed in the Supreme Council. 




H 


The Grand Constitutions 


ARTICLE III. 

The Supreme Council has full power to institute and charter 
subordinate bodies, to confer all the degrees of the Ancient and 
Accepted Scottish rite, subject to the restrictions hereinafter men¬ 
tioned, upon such Master Masons as may be deemed worthy in 
foreign countries where no Supreme Council or Sovereign Grand 
Consistory exists, or in states or territories of the United States ; 
to enter into fraternal relations with such other masonic bodies as 
it may deem necessary for the benefit of the rite, and to draw 
upon the funds of the Sovereign Grand Consistory for all neces¬ 
sary expenses of the Supreme Council. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The Supreme Council may delegate the power of conferring 
degrees to any member of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

ARTICLE V. 

It is the duty of the Supreme Council to see that the Con¬ 
stitution, Edicts and General Regulations are faithfully complied 
with ; that the ancient landmarks and usages of the Frater¬ 
nity are not infringed, and that the best exertions are put forth 
for the advancement of the interests of the Ancient and Accepted 
Scottish Rite. 

ARTICLE VI. 

The Supreme Council is the final court of appeal in all con¬ 
troversies which may arise between Subordinate Consistories or 
individual members of Subordinate Consistories 

* ARTICLE VII. 

The Supreme Council shall meet at least once in every three 
months. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Five members of the Supreme Council, the Most Puissant 
Sovereign Grand Commander, the Puissant Lieutenant Grand 
Commander, or the Illustrious Grand Orator and Minister of 
State, being one of the number, shall constitute a quorum for 
the transaction of business. 


and General Regulations. 


15 


ARTICLE IX. 

The Sovereign Grand Commander may call special meetings 
of the Supreme Council whenever he deems it necessary, and 
shall do so upon the written request of five members of the 
Supreme Council. 

ARTICLE X. 

At the first meeting of the Supreme Council after each 
annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, the Most 
Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander shall select three members 
of the Supreme Council to act as a finance committee, whose duty 
shall be to audit all bills, accounts, etc., presented to the Supreme 
Council, and no bill shall be paid unless endorsed by a majority 
of the members of said committee. 

ARTICLE XI. 

Every member of the Supreme Council shall receive at least 
ten days’ notice of every regular meeting. 

ARTICLE XII. 

All official correspondence relative to the Ancient and 
Accepted Scottish Rite must be through the Supreme Council 
under the direction of the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand 
Commander, and by the Grand Secretary General. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

In the deliberations of the Supreme Council each member 
has one vote only. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

All matters which shall come before the Supreme Council 
shall be decided by a majority vote, with the exception, as 
hereinafter provided for in Article I. of Title IV., and also, 
that when an aggrieved party appeals from the decision of the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory, such decision can be revoked only 
by the unanimous consent of the nine members of the Supreme 
Council. Such reversal shall not be valid unless it is made in 
writing, signed by each individual member of the Supreme 
Council, with the proper seals attached, and deposited in the 


i6 


The Grand Constitutions 


archives of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and a copy of the 
same duly entered in the book of records of the Supreme 
Council. 

ARTICLE XV. 

All decisions made by the Supreme Council are binding 
upon the subordinates of this jurisdiction, until the same shall 
be reversed by the Sovereign Grand Consistory in annual 
rendezvous assembled. 

ARTICLE XVI. 

It shall be the duty of the Supreme Council to attend to the 
organization of all subordinate bodies and to see that their several 
jurisdictions are properly arranged. 

ARTICLE XVII. 

Should a vacancy occur in the Supreme Council by reason 
of death, removal beyond this jurisdiction, or from other 
causes, the Sovereign Grand Commander shall appoint a 
member of the Sovereign Grand Consistory to fill such vacancy 
until the next annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Con¬ 
sistory, when an election shall be held to fill the office for the 
balance of the unexpired term. 

ARTICLE XVIII. 

The Grand Orient of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish 
Rite for the United States of America, its Territories and De¬ 
pendencies, shall be at the vertical point of the Z.\ beneath the 
C.\ C.\ answering to 40 deg., 43 min., N.\ L.’. and74deg. W.\ 
of the Meridian at Greenwich ; the same being within the limits 
of the City of New York, from which all balustres, decrees and 
official documents shall bear date, and in which city all regular 
meetings of the Supreme Council shall be held. 

ARTICLE XIX. 

A Sovereign Grand Inspector General, having been elected 
to and accepted membership in the Supreme Council, shall not 
thereafter be elected to the office of Commander-in-Chief, First 
or Second lieutenant Commander in anv subordinate body under 


and General Regulations. 


1 7 


this jurisdiction during his term of office. Should a Commander- 
in-Chief, First or Second Lieutenant Commander of any subor¬ 
dinate body under this jurisdiction be elected to and accept 
membership in the Supreme Council he thereby vacates his office 
in such subordinate body. 


TITLE IV. 

DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 


ARTICLE I. 

Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander. 

The Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander is the 
supreme chief of the rite within the jurisdiction of the Supreme 
Council and Sovereign Grand Consistory. He shall preside over 
all their regular and special sessions. He may also preside over 
all masonic assemblies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite, 
which, in his official capacity, he may favor with his presence. 
He may grant special dispensations, not in violation of the Con¬ 
stitution, upon a written demand either according to a resolution 
adopted by a subordinate body of this jurisdiction, or in case of 
urgency by a Commander-in-Chief of a Subordinate Consistory. 
Such demand shall be deposited in the archives. All decisions 
made by the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander, when 
the Supreme Council is not in session, are binding upon the sub¬ 
ordinates of this jurisdiction until the same shall be reversed by 
the Supreme Council or Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

He shall report to the Supreme Council at each meeting all 
of the business transacted by him during its recess and submit 
the same for its approval. 

He shall have power to appoint from the members of the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory, subject to the restrictions herein¬ 
after named, Active Sovereign Grand Inspectors General to repre¬ 
sent him and the Supreme Council in states and territories of the 



i8 


The Grand Constitutions 


United States. It shall also be his duty by and with the approval 
of the Supreme Council to appoint suitable brethren to represent 
this jurisdiction in such bodies of the Ancient and Accepted 
Scottish rite, located in foreign countries, with whom the Supreme 
Council shall decide to exchange fraternal relations. 

Should any member of the Supreme Council refuse or neglect 
to perform the duties of his office, it shall be the duty of the Most 
Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander to prefer charges to the 
Supreme Council against such officer ; and, if the charges be 
sustained by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of 
the Supreme Council, each member having been served with a 
copy of the charges, and the delinquent member having been 
afforded ample opportunity to defend himself, the Sovereign 
Grand Commander shall suspend such member of the Supreme 
Council from the further performance of his duties, and appoint 
a member of the Sovereign Grand Consistory to act in his stead 
until the next annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Con¬ 
sistory, when the charges shall be preferred to the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory, and, if sustained by an affirmative vote of 
two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote, such 
officer shall be declared impeached, his office vacant and the va¬ 
cancy filled by election. Should the Sovereign Grand Com¬ 
mander neglect or refuse to perform his duties, charges may be 
preferred against him to the Supreme Council by any Sovereign 
Grand Inspector General, thirty-third degree, and should such 
charges be sustained by the unanimous vote of the balance of the 
members of the Supreme Council, each member having been 
served with a copy of the charges and the Sovereign Grand Com¬ 
mander afforded ample opportunity to defend himself, he shall 
be suspended from the further performance*of his duties and the 
Puissant Lieutenant Grand Commander shall assume the duties 
and prerogatives of the Sovereign Grand Commander until the 
next annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, 
when the charges shall be preferred to the Sovereign Grand Con¬ 
sistory, and, if sustained by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of 
the members present and entitled to vote, he shall be declared im¬ 
peached, his office vacant, and the vacancy filled by election. 


and General Regulations. 


19 


Charges for unmasonic conduct having been preferred against 
a Commander-in-Chief or acting Commander-in-Chief (other 
than a Sovereign Grand Inspector General) of a Subordinate Con¬ 
sistory it shall be the duty of the Sovereign Grand Commander 
to suspend such officer from the further performance of his duties 
until such charges shall have been disposed of. 

ARTICLE ii. 

Puissant Lieutenant Grand Commander. 

In the absence of the Sovereign Grand Commander, the 
Puissant Lieutenant Grand Commander enjoys and may exercise 
his rights and prerogatives. 

In case of the death of the Sovereign Grand Commander, 
the Puissant Lieutenant Grand Commander shall act as Sover¬ 
eign Grand Commander until the next annual rendezvous of the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory, when an election shall be held to 
elect a Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander for the 
balance of the unexpired term. 

ARTICLE III. 

Grand Orator and Minister of State. 

It shall be the duty of the Illustrious Grand Orator and 
Minister of State to see that the Constitution, General Rules and 
Regulations of the Supreme Council and Sovereign Grand Consis¬ 
tory are faithfully* observed by all subordinate bodies, and his 
opinion in writing shall be obtained on all subjects pertaining 
thereto, and presented to the Supreme Council before final action 
is taken. He shall preside at meetings of the Supreme Council 
in absence of the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander 
and the Puissant Lieutenant Grand Commander, and in the event 
of the disability of both Commanders, shall succeed to and per¬ 
form the duties of Sovereign Grand Commander until the next 
annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Grand Chancellor Grand Secretary General. 

The Illustrious Grand Chancellor Grand Secretary General 


20 


The Grand Constitutions 


shall keep the archives of the Supreme Council and of the Sov¬ 
ereign Grand Consistory ; also a register of all the works, de¬ 
liberations and transactions of each bodj^. It shall be his duty 
faithfully to transcribe the same in books kept for that purpose. 

He shall keep a faithful copy of all letters and communications 
emanating from the Supreme Council, and attest and seal, as the 
case may be, every order, mandate or act of each body. 

Every diploma, brief or letters patent, lawfully petitioned 
by any member of this jurisdiction, shall be signed by him and 
sealed with his private seal. 

He shall collect all the revenues due the Sovereign Grand 
Consistory, and within a reasonable time pay the same to the 
Illustrious Grand Treasurer General, taking his receipt therefor. 

It is also the duty of the Grand Secretary General, in the 
name and by the order of the Sovereign Grand Consistory and 
under the direction of the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Com¬ 
mander, to issue all duly authorized Edicts or Mandates and to 
officially correspond with all masonic bodies, either of this or of 
any other jurisdiction. 

All masonic documents, packages, pamphlets or letters 
directed to the Supreme Council must be addressed to the Grand 
Secretary General through the post office or delivered to him 
personally. 

He shall, at each annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand 
Consistory, submit in writing a detailed report of all the pro¬ 
ceedings and transactions of the Supreme Council during the 
year, also an account of the proceedings of the Sovereign Grand 
Consistory at the preceding annual rendezvous 

He shall enter in a book provided for the purpose, which 
shall be termed the “Black Book,” the names of all who have 
been suspended or expelled for unmasonic conduct, either by the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory or bodies subordinate to its juris¬ 
diction ; he shall duly notify each Subordinate Consistory of such 
suspensions or expulsions immediately after the official decision 
has been rendered. 

He shall keep a correct register of the membership of the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory and each Subordinate Consistory 


and General Regulation . 


21 


under its jurisdiction, specifying the name of each member, name 
and number of the Subordinate Consistory from which he hails, 
date of initiation and oath of fealty, of advancement to member¬ 
ship, place of birth, age, when elected, name and number of the 
Lodge of Ancient Craft Masonry from which he hails, and where 
located, rank in different masonic bodies, residence and occupation. 
He shall make a duplicate copy of the registry, records and pro¬ 
ceedings of the Sovereign Grand Consistory and its Supreme 
Council, and at each annual rendezvous deliver to the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory the minutes and a duplicate copy thereof of 
the preceding year’s business. He shall duly transmit to his 
successor in office all the books, records, documents, etc., in his 
possession belonging to the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

He shall duly notify each member of the Sovereign Grand 
Consistory of every rendezvous at least fifteen days prior thereto. 

ARTICLE V. 

Grand Treasurer General. 

The Illustrious Grand Treasurer General shall receive from 
the Grand Secretary General, all moneys belonging to the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory, giving his receipt for the same; and 
shall not expend or pay out any sums without the authority of 
the Supreme Council or the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and on 
warrants signed by the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Com¬ 
mander and the Grand Secretary General. He shall submit in 
writing at each annual rendezvous a general and detailed account 
of all receipts and expenditures. 

ARTICLE VI. 

Grand Marshal General. 

The Illustrious Grand Marshal General shall have charge of 
the Supreme Council in all processions of the Order. 

With the assistance of the Grand Captain of the Guard, and 
by mandate of the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander, 
he shall conduct the officers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
to their stations of dignity and service, and perform such special 
duties, in connection with his office, as may be directed by the 
Grand Commander. 


22 


The Grand Constitutions 


ARTICLE VII. 

Grand Master General of Ceremonies. 

The Illustrious Grand Master General of Ceremonies shall 
assist the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander in the 
ceremonial of the degrees, and accompany the initiate in his 
mystic travels. 

He should be well versed in the rituals of the Order, and 
shall, upon the application of the proper authorities within this 
jurisdiction, give to any officer, body or bodies therein such 
instructions as may be required to render perfect and uniform the 
exemplification of the different degrees of the Ancient and 
Accepted Scottish Rite. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Grand Standard Bearer . 

The Illustrious Grand Standard Bearer shall be entrusted 
with the standard of the Order. 

ARTICLE IX. 

Grand Captain of the Guard. 

The Illustrious Grand Captain of the Guard shall keep a 
faithful watch both within and without the Grand Chambers, 
and see that the portals are duly guarded. He shall report to 
the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander all messages 
from without, and transmit the answers. He shall also see that 
the Grand Chambers are properly prepared and in order for work 
or for the deliberations of the Supreme Council, and also for the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

ARTICLE X. 

The duties' of the Grand Seneschal and Grand Sentinel shall 
be to guard the inner and the outer doors of the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory, and to perform such other duties as the Sov¬ 
ereign Grand Commander or the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
may require of them. 


and General Regulations. 

TITLE V. 


23 


Active Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and Deputy Inspec¬ 
tors of the Work. 

ARTICLE I. 

In case of a memDer of the Supreme Council residing in a 
state or territory other than that in which the Sovereign Grand 
Commander resides he shall, by virtue of his membership, be¬ 
come the Active Sovereign Grand Inspector General of his state 
or territory. 

ARTICLE II. 

Should more than one member of the Supreme Council re¬ 
side in a State or Territory other than that in which the Sovereign 
Grand Commander resides the Sovereign Grand Commander 
shall select one of said members and appoint him as Active 
Sovereign Grand Inspector General of said State or Territory. 

ARTICLE III. 

In the State or Territory wherein the Sovereign Grand Com¬ 
mander resides he may appoint from the members of the Sover¬ 
eign Grand Consistory an Active Sovereign Grand Inspector 
General or Deputy Inspector to represent him and the Supreme 
Council in such parts of his State or Territory as he may deem 
necessary. 

ARTICLE IV. 

In all the States or Territories not referred to in Articles I., II. 
and III. of Title V. the Sovereign Grand Commander may appoint 
Active Sovereign Grand Inspectors General as provided for in 
Article I. of Title IV. 

ARTICLE V. 

Active Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, with the ex¬ 
ception of such as hold office under the law r as provided for in 
Article I. of Title V., are to serve during the will and pleasure 
of the Sovereign Grand Commander. 


24 


The Grand Constitutions 


ARTICLE VI. 

An Active Sovereign Grand Inspector General is the repre¬ 
sentative of the Sovereign Grand Commander and Supreme 
Council, and, under the direction of the Sovereign Grand Com¬ 
mander, shall exercise a proper supervision over all bodies of the 
rite in his jurisdiction. He shall endeavor to use all honorable 
means within his power, or of those subordinate to him, for the 
advancement of the interests of the rite, extension of its influence 
and increase of its membership within the territory over which 
he presides. He shall have power, in a great emergency, to 
grant dispensations for such acts as would be in the power of 
the Sovereign Grand Commander to grant were he present. He 
shall, however, immediately after granting such dispensation, 
duly notify the Sovereign Grand Commander, giving him a full 
and detailed explanation of all matters pertaining thereto. 

ARTICLE VII. 

It shall be the duty of each Active Sovereign Grand In¬ 
spector General to visit officially each of the bodies under his 
authority as often as possible, and to give necessary advice and 
encouragement, and to correct all irregularities or errors in the 
work. On such occasions he shall be duly received and ack¬ 
nowledged as the official representative of the Sovereign Grand 
Commander and Supreme Council. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Each Active Sovereign Grand Inspector General shall keep 
a register of all his acts, and report the same in writing, together 
with a detailed account of matters pertaining to the rite in his 
jurisdiction to the Sovereign Grand Commander at least once in 
every three months, and at each annual rendezvous of the Sover¬ 
eign Grand Consistory. He shall be responsible to the Supreme 
Council for the proper and discreet exercise of all his powers, 
and in all cases shall act in accordance with the directions of the 
Supreme Council as expressed through the Sovereign Grand 
Commander. 


and General Regulations . 


25 


ARTICLE IX. 

Each Active Sovereign Grand Inspector General shall have 
power to appoint from among the members of the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory, residing within his jurisdiction, Deputy In¬ 
spectors of the work, but such appointments shall not exceed 
more than one from each county, and shall be subject to the ap¬ 
proval of the Sovereign Grand Commander. 

ARTICLE X. 

It shall be the duty of a Deputy Inspector to carefully 
supervise the work of the subordinate bodies under his juris¬ 
diction, to use all honorable means within his power, or of those 
subordinate to him, for the advancement of the interests of the 
rite, extension of the influence and increase of its membership. 
He shall keep a correct register of all his acts and of matters 
pertaining to the rite within his jurisdiction, and at least once 
in every three months furnish a detailed statement in writing to 
his superior officer. 

ARTICLE XI. 

The term of office of a Deputy Inspector shall be during the 
approval of the Sovereign Grand Commander or the appointing 
power. 


TITLE VI. 

REVENUE. 

ARTICLE I. 

The revenue of the Sovereign Grand Consistory shall be 
derived from the charges for letters patent of the Thirty-second 
and Thirty-third Degrees, from a per capita tax on all Subor¬ 
dinate Consistories under this jurisdiction and for all degrees 
conferred by its subordinates, and from the charge for charters 
for all subordinate bodies. 



26 


The Grand Constitutions 


ARTICLE II. 

Letters Patent 

The charges for letters patent of the Thirty-second and 
Thirty-third Degrees, and for the per capita tax, shall be as 
hereinafter provided in the General Regulations. 

ARTICLE III. 

Price of Warrants. 

The price for a warrant or charter for a Subordinate Consis¬ 
tory shall be $270.00 except that in case of the organization 
of a Subordinate Consistory, the major part of whose charter 
members hail from a Consistory previously established, the 
Supreme Council may in its discretion grant a charter for a less 
sum. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Each Subordinate Consistory under this jurisdiction shall be 
taxed $5.00 for each brother upon whom it shall confer any of the 
degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite. 

Each Subordinate Consistory shall also pay a per capita tax 
(as provided for in the General Regulations) for each member 
whose name shall appear on its roll at the annual rendezvous 
immediately preceding each annual rendezvous of the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory ; and each Subordinate Consistory shall make 
its returns direct to the Grand Secretary General of the Sover¬ 
eign Grand Consistory. 


TITLE VII. 

Subordinate Consistory and its Appendant Bodies. 

ARTICLE I. 

A Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Thirty- 
second Degree, shall consist of, and take rank as follows : 

1. The Illustrious Commander-in-Chief. 

2. The Illustrious First Lieutenant Commander. 

3. The Illustrious Second Lieutenant Commander. 

4. The Illustrious Minister of State and Grand Orator. 



and General Regulations. 


27 


5. The Illustrious Grand Chancellor. 

6. The Illustrious Grand Secretary and Keeper of the Seals and Archives. 

7- The Illustrious Grand Treasurer. 

8. The Illustrious Grand Master of Ceremonies. 

9. The Illustrious Grand Engineer and Architect. 

10. The Illustrious Grand Hospitaler. 

11. The Illustrious Grand Captain of the Guard. 

12. The Illustrious Grand Standard Bearer. 

13. The Illustrious Grand Sentinel. 

and as many members as may be convenient, congregating and working in 
pursuance and by virtue of a charter held under the authority of the Supreme 
Council. 


ARTICLE II. 

The Illustrious Commander-in-Chief, the Illustrious First 
and Second lieutenant Commanders, the Illustrious Grand 
Orator, the Illustrious Grand Secretary, and the Illustrious 
Grand Treasurer shall be elected by ballot biennially in the 
month of January. 

The other officers may be appointed by the Commander-in- 
Chief, such appointments to be made on or before the night of 
installation. 


ARTICLE III. 

There shall exist within each Consistory of Sublime Princes 
of the Royal Secret, Thirty-second Degree, a Chapter of Rose 
Croix, a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and a Lodge of Per¬ 
fection. 

A Consistory being thus constituted shall have full right and 
authority in its jurisdiction, over the following degrees of the 
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, viz.: 

Lodge of Perfection.—Ineffable Degrees. 

4. Secret Master. 

5. Perfect Master. 

6. Intimate Secretary. 

7. Provost and Judge. 

8. Intendant of the Building. 

9. Elect of Nine. 

10. Knight Elect of Fifteen. 

11. Sublime Knight Elected. 


28 The Grand Constitutions 

12. Grand Master Architect. 

13. King Solomon’s Royal Arch. 

14. Grand, Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason. 

Council of Princes of ferusalem.—Historical Degrees. 

15. Knight of the East or Sword. 

16. Prince of Jerusalem. 

Rose Croix Chapter.—Philosophical Degrees. 

17. Knight of the East and West. 

18. Sovereign Prince of the Rose Croix. 

CONSISTORY. 

Historical , Philosophical , and Chivalric Degrees. 

19. Grand Pontiff. 

20. Master ad vitam. 

21. Patriarch Noachite. 

22. Prince of Libanus. 

23. Chief of the Tabernacle. 

24. Prince of the Tabernacle. 

25. Knight of the Brazen Serpent. 

26. Prince of Mercy. 

27. Commander of the Temple. 

28. Knight of the Sun. 

29. Patriarch of the Crusades. 

30. Grand Elect Knight K-h; or, Knight of the White and Black Eagle. 

31. Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander. 

32. Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The officers of a Chapter of Rose Croix shall be styled and 
take rank as follows : 

1. Most Wise and Perfect Master. 

2. Most Excellent and Perfect Knight Senior Warden. 

3. Most Excellent and Perfect Knight Junior Warden. 

4. Most Excellent and Perfect Knight Grand Orator. 

5. Respectable and Perfect Knight Grand Treasurer. 

6. Respectable and Perfect Knight Grand Secretary. 

7. Respectable and Perfect Knight Hospitaler. 

8. Respectable and Perfect Knight Grand Master of Ceremonies. 

9. Respectable and Perfect Knight Grand Guard of the Tower. 

10. Respectable Knight Sentinel. 


and General Regulations. 


29 


The Most Wise and Perfect Master, and Perfect Knights 
Senior and Junior Wardens, shall be elected by ballot biennially 
on the last meeting previous to Holy Thursday. The other 
officers may be appointed by the Most Wise and Perfect Master, 
such appointments to be made on or before the night of his install¬ 
ation. The officers of a Chapter of Rose Croix, by the authority 
of the Consistory to which it is attached, and under the direction 
of its Commander-in-Chief, shall have power to confer the Degrees 
of Knight of the Bast and West, Seventeenth Degree, and Sover¬ 
eign Prince of Rose Croix, Eighteenth Degree. 

ARTICLE V. 

The officers of a Council of Princes of Jerusalem shall be 
styled and take rank as follows : 

1. The Most Equitable Sovereign Prince Grand Master. 

2. The Grand High Priest, Substitute Deputy. 

3. The Most Enlightened Senior Grand Warden. 

4. The Most Enlightened Junior Grand Warden. 

5. The Valorous Grand Secretary, Keeper of the Seals and Archives. 

6. The Valorous Grand Treasurer. 

7. The Valorous Grand Master of Ceremonies. 

8. The Valorous Grand Master of Entrances. 

9. The Grand Tyler. 

The Most Equitable Sovereign Prince Grand Master, the 
Grand High Priest, Substitute Deputy, the Most Enlightened 
Senior Grand Warden, and the Most Enlightened Junior Grand 
Warden, shall be elected by ballot biennially in the month of 
Tebet, and as near to the twentieth day of the month as circum¬ 
stances will permit. The other officers may be appointed by the 
Most Equitable Sovereign Prince Grand Master, such appointments 
to be made on or before the night of his installation. The officers 
of a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, by the authority of the 
Consistory to which it is attached, and under the direction of its 
Commander-in-Chief, shall have power to confer the Degrees of 
Knight of the East or Sword, Fifteenth Degree, and Prince of 
Jerusalem, Sixteenth Degree. 


30 


The Grand Constitutions 


ARTICLE VI. 

The officers of a Lodge of Perfection shall be styled and 
take rank as follows : 

1. Thrice Potent Grand Master. 

2. Hiram of Tyre, Deputy Grand Master. 

3. Venerable Senior Grand Warden. 

4. Venerable Junior Grand Warden. 

5. Grand Orator. 

6. Grand Treasurer. 

7. Grand Secretary, Keeper of the Seals and Archives. 

8 . Grand Master of Ceremonies. 

9. Grand Captain of the Guard. 

10. Grand Hospitable Brother. 

11. Grand Tyler. 

The Thrice Potent Grand Master, Hiram of Tyre, Deputy 
Grand Master, the Venerable Senior Grand Warden, and the 
Venerable Junior Grand Warden, shall be elected by ballot 
biennially in the month of Adar, and as near to the third day 
of the month as circumstances will permit. The other officers 
may be appointed by the Thrice Potent Grand Master. Such 
appointments must be made on or before the night of his in¬ 
stallation. 

The officers of a Lodge of Perfection, by the authority of the 
Consistory to which it is attached, and under the direction of its 
Commander-in-Chief, shall have power to confer the Degrees of 

4. Secret Master. 

5. Perfect Master. 

6. Intimate Secretary. 

7. Provost and Judge. 

8. Intendant of the Building. 

9. Elect of Nine. 

10. Knight Elect of Fifteen. 

11. Sublime Knight Elected. 

12. Grand Master Architect. 

13. Knights of King Solomon’s Royal Arch. 

14. Grand, Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason. 

ARTICLE VII. 

A Subordinate Consistory shall have power to make rules and 
regulations for its own government not inconsistent with the Cou- 


and General Regulations. 


31 


stitution, Laws, General Regulations and Edicts of the Supreme 
Council or Sovereign Grand Consistory. . 

At the organization of each new Consistory all rules and 
regulations must be approved by the Supreme Council before tak¬ 
ing effect. Copies of all amendments to the rules and regulations 
of a Subordinate Consistory must be forwarded to the Grand 
Secretary General H.*. E.\ immediately after adoption. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

The Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, 
from the Fourth to the Thirty-second inclusive, shall not be 
conferred upon any person for a less sum than twenty dollars, 
except in the organization of a new Consistory, when the charter 
members may be initiated for a less sum. 

ARTICLE IX. 

Every Subordinate Consistory under this jurisdiction shall 
rendezvous at least four times in each year; one of which shall 
be in the month of January. 

ARTICLE X. 

Commander-in-Chief.—His Duties. 

It shall be the duty of the Illustrious Commander-in-Chief 
to preside at all meetings of the Consistory, appoint all committees, 
and be, ex-officio , a member of the same. He shall discharge all 
the duties which are prescribed by the Constitution, Laws and 
Regulations, Rituals and Usages of the Order. 

ARTICLE XI. 

Special Meetings. 

Special meetings may be called by the Illustrious Commander- 
in-Chief at any time he may deem necessary. 

ARTICLE XII. 

In the absence of the Commander-in-Chief, the First Lieu¬ 
tenant Commander shall assume the duties of Commander-in- 
Chief, and, in the absence of both the Commander-in-Chief and 


32 


The Grand Constitutions 


the First Lieutenant Commander, the duties of the office devolve 
upon the Second Lieutenant Commander. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

All officers of a Consistory, and its appendant bodies, shall be 
installed on or before the first rendezvous after the election. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

Officers Who Cannot Resign. 

The Commander-in-Chief, the First and Second Lieutenant 
Commanders of a Consistory, having been duly elected and in¬ 
stalled, cannot resign from such office during the term for which 
they have been elected. 


ARTICLE XV. 

Vacancies.—How Filled. 

Should a vacancy occur in either of the aforementioned 
offices by reason of death, expulsion, suspension, permanent 
removal beyond the jurisdiction, or otherwise, the next highest 
officer shall perform the duties of the officer whose power has 
thus been arrested, until the next annual rendezvous of the 
Consistory, when the vacancy shall be filled by election. 

ARTICLE XVI. 

Should a vacancy occur in any other elective office of a 
Consistory, or of its appendant bodies, an election to fill such 
vacancy shall be held at the first stated rendezvous thereafter, 
provided that each member shall be notified at least ten days 
previous to such election. 

ARTICLE XVII. 

Thirty-second Degree Members entitled to a Patent. 

Every brother after being advanced to the grade of Sublime 
Prince of the Royal Secret, Thirty-second Degree, shall be en¬ 
titled to receive a patent duly signed and sealed, the price of 
which shall be as hereinafter provided in the General Regulations, 


and General Regulations. 33 

ARTICLE XVIII. 

Patent.—How Signed. 

Every patent of the Thirty-second Degree shall be signed by 
the members of the Supreme Council, and bear the Seals of the 
Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander and of the Grand 
Secretary General. 

ARTICLE XIX. 

Quorum. 

Nine members of a Consistory shall constitute a quorum for 
the transaction of business, the Commander-in-Chief or one of 
the Eieutenant Commanders being one of the number. 

ARTICLE XX. 

% 

A Subordinate Consistory shall have full power to hear and 
determine all matters of difference between its members ; to pun¬ 
ish by reprimand,'suspension or expulsion, with the concurrence 
of two-thirds of the members present, at a stated rendezvous, 
every member having been notified of the nature of the business 
to be brought before it. 

ARTICLE XXI. 

Appeal. — How , and to whom Made. 

Any Sublime Prince having been reprimanded, suspended or 
expelled by his Consistory, and being aggrieved at such action, 
may appeal to the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

ARTICLE XXII. 

Money Returns. 

Each Subordinate Consistory shall make returns of all 
moneys due the Sovereign Grand Consistory once in every three 
months ; the per capita tax shall be paid annually before the 
rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

ARTICLE XXIII. 

The Grand Secretary and Keeper of the Seals and Archives 
of each Subordinate Consistory under this jurisdiction shall keep 


34 


The Grand Constitutions 


a correct registry of its membership and of each initiate, specify¬ 
ing date of initiation and oath of fealty, of advancement to mem¬ 
bership, place of birth, age, when elected, name and number of 
the lodge of Ancient Craft Masonry from which he hails, and 
where located, rank in different masonic bodies, residence and 
occupation ; also the names of those who have been admitted by 
affiliation, or who have dimitted, or been dropped from the roll, 
suspended or expelled, or who have died ; he shall make a full 
and complete report of the same, together with the number of 
members whose names shall appear upon the roll of his con¬ 
sistory at each annual rendezvous ; he shall also once in every 
three months report the number of brethren who have been 
initiated in the rite, and the names and date of advancement of 
all who have been, exalted to the grade of Sublime Prince of the 
Royal Secret, thirty-second degree, in his consistory, during the 
preceding three months. He shall forward the reports to the 
Grand Secretary General H. '. E. - .; the annual report, together 
with the amount due for per capita tax, must be forwarded at 
least thirty days prior to each annual rendezvous of the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory. The quarterly reports must be accompanied 
with the amount due for initiations and forwarded immediately 
after the expiration of each three months. The Grand Secretary 
shall enter in a book provided for the purpose, which shall be 
termed the “ Black Book, ” the names of all who have been suspen¬ 
ded or expelled for unmasonic conduct, either by his own or 
a sister Consistory, or by the Sovereign Grand Consistory, as 
soon as he receives official notice of the same. 

It shall be his duty to report to the Grand Secretary Gen¬ 
eral H.‘. E.\ the names of all who may be suspended or expelled 
for unmasonic conduct as soon as the official decision has been 
rendered. It shall also be the duty of the Grand Secretary of 
each Consistory to report to the Grand Secretary General H.-.E.*. 
immediately after each election, the names and rank of the officers 
of his consistory and appendant bodies, together with the dates 
of their installation and by whom installed. 


and General Regulations. 35 

TITLE VIII. 

AMENDMENTS. 

ARTICLE I. 

Any portion of this Constitution may be amended; but such 
amendment must be offered in writing by a member of the Sov¬ 
ereign Grand Consistory, who shall furnish a copy thereof to the 
Grand Secretary General, at least ninety days prior to an annual 
rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. The Grand 
Secretary General shall within sixty days send a printed copy of 
all such proposed amendments to the Secretary of each Subordin¬ 
ate Consistory, and to each Sovereign Grand Inspector General 
in good standing under our Obedience. If the proposed amend¬ 
ment receives the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members 
present and entitled to vote, it shall then be referred to the Sup¬ 
reme Council for its approval. 

ARTICLE II. 

On the receipt of a proposed amendment from the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory, the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Com¬ 
mander shall, as soon as possible, call a meeting of the Supreme 
Council, when, if the proposed amendment meet with the ap¬ 
proval of five members of that body, it shall be declared adopted, 
and the Sovereign Grand Commander shall cause the same to be 
promulgated to all bodies under this jurisdiction. 

Should such proposed amendment fail to meet with the ap¬ 
proval of five members of the Supreme Council, the Grand Sec¬ 
retary General H.\ E.‘. shall notify each member of the Sover¬ 
eign Grand Consistory at least thirty days prior to its next annual 
rendezvous ; such notification shall be accompanied with a copy 
of the objections to the proposed amendment, offered by the 
Supreme Council. The rejected proposed amendment shall again 
be presented for consideration, to the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
at such annual rendezvous, and if it again receives the affirmative 
vote of two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote, it 
shall, notwithstanding the disapproval of the Supreme Council, 


36 


The Grand Constitutions 


be declared adopted, and the Sovereign Grand Commander shall 
cause the same to be promulgated to all bodies under the juris¬ 
diction. 

ARTICLE HI. 

Decision , when Rendered. 

The decision of the Supreme Council upon a proposed amend¬ 
ment to the Constitution shall be rendered within ninety days 
after its adoption by the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Amendments of the General Regulations. 

The General Regulations may be amended at any annual ren¬ 
dezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory by an affirmative 
vote of two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote. 


TITLE IX. 

GENERAL REGULATIONS. 

Thirty-third Degree. 

ARTICLE I. 

The grade of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty- 
third Degree, shall not be conferred except in presence of the 
Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander or some other mem¬ 
ber of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, duly commissioned by 
the Supreme Council or Sovereign Grand Commander to take 
charge of the work. 

ARTICLE II. 

The fee for the Thirty-third Degree shall be fifty dollars. 

ARTICLE III. 

Section i. —Every Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret who 
has been elected to and installed in the office of Commander-in- 
Chief of a Consistory, shall be entitled to be exalted to the grade 
of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third Degree, and 
without fee. 



and General Regulations. 


37 


Section 2.—The Supreme Council has power to confer the 
Thirty-third Degree upon the Commander-in-Chief and one other 
Sublime Prince in each new Consistory when instituted. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The Supreme Council shall have power, by the unanimous 
consent of its members, given in writing over their own signa¬ 
tures, to confer upon one or more Sublime Princes of the Royal 
Secret, Thirty-second Degree, the grade of Sovereign Grand In¬ 
spector General, Thirty-third Degree, provided however that such 
applicant shall pay the necessary fee and shall not have previ¬ 
ously made application to a subordinate body for the grade. 

ARTICLE V. 

Each Subordinate Consistory under this jurisdiction, at each 
annual rendezvous, shall be entitled to select, by a majority vote, 
one of its members for each twenty-five Brethren advanced to the 
grade of Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, Thirty-second De¬ 
gree, during the preceding year, whom it shall recommend to the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory to be exalted to the grade of Sov¬ 
ereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third Degree. Should a 
Consistory fail to exalt the necessary number, or exalt in excess 
of the required twenty-five, in any one year, the number exalted 
in the former case, and the fractional excess in the latter shall be 
accounted for in the succeeding year. 

ARTICLE VI. 

Each applicant for the grade of Sovereign Grand Inspector 
General, Thirty-third Degree, recommended by a Subordinate 
Consistory, shall be balloted for at an annual rendezvous of the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory, and if the application be approved 
by a two-third vote of the members present, the application shall 
be referred to the Supreme Council for final action ; when, if con¬ 
firmed by five members of the Supreme Council, the applicant 
shall be declared elected, and shall be invested with the rank of 
Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third Degree. 


38 


The Grand Constitutions 


ARTICLE VII. 

All recommendations, endorsements, or elections for the 
grade of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third De¬ 
gree, either by a Subordinate Consistory, the Sovereign Grand 
Consistory, or its Supreme Council, must be by secret ballot. 


•TITLE X. 

TRIALS AND APPEALS. 

ARTICLE I. 

In all matters of controversy which may arise between 
Subordinate Consistories, or individual members of different 
Subordinate Consistories, and charges having been preferred to 
the Sovereign Grand Consistory, the Most Puissant Sovereign 
Grand Commander shall appoint a commission of not more than 
five or less than three disinterested Brethren, hailing from at least 
three different Consistories, to hear and determine the same. 

ARTICLE II. 

After service of the charges against the accused, the commiss¬ 
ion shall appoint a time and place convenient to the parties and 
summon them and such witnesses as either party may request. 

ARTICLE III. 

When the trial has been concluded, the Commissioners shall, 
as soon as possible, make their report of the facts found by them, 
and their determination upon the matter, and give notice thereof 
to each of the parties concerned ; they shall also file a report, to¬ 
gether with all the papers, etc., connected with the case, with 
the Grand Secretary General H.\ E.\ who shall immediately 
report the same to the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Com¬ 
mander. 

ARTICLE IV. 

In all cases of Masonic trial under the authority of the Sov¬ 
ereign Grand Consistory, a majority of the Commissioners having 
concurred in the judgment of the commission, their decision 



and General Regulations. 


39 


shall be final unless an appeal be taken therefrom within six 
months after the decision has been rendered. A brother having 
preferred charges against another for un-Masonic conduct, or the 
brother against whom such charges have been preferred being 
aggrieved at the decision thereon, either by a Subordinate Con¬ 
sistory, by a Commission appointed under the authority of the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory, or at the decision of the Sovereign 
Grand Consistory, and in either case desiring to appeal therefrom, 
must within thirty days after receiving official notice of such de¬ 
cision give due notice in writing to the Grand Secretary of the 
body to whom he appeals, as well as to the presiding officer and 
Secretary of the body from whose decision the appeal is made. 
He shall then, within the time prescribed in the first clause of 
this Article, duly serve the Grand Secretary of the body to whom 
he appeals with a copy of his appeal, stating therein in full his 
grounds therefor. The Grand Secretary of the body to whom 
the appeal is made after the body has decided upon the time and 
place for the discussion, shall duly notify the appellant as well as 
the parties appealed from, giving each at least thirty days’ 
notice. On the trial of the appeal the discussion shall be con¬ 
fined exclusively to the merits of the case, as shown by the offi¬ 
cial documents previously presented in the original trial. In all 
cases of Masonic trials or appeals, both the accused and the 
accuser in the former, and the appellant and party appealed from 
in the latter instance, shall be entitled to be represented by 
counsel, who must be a member of the Ancient and Accepted 
Scottish Rite not lower in rank, as to degrees, than the accused 
or appellant. 

ARTICLE V. 

When charges are preferred in a Subordinate Consistory the 
Commander-in-Chief shall appoint a commission, consisting of 
not less than three or more than five disinterested members of 
the Consistory, to take testimony in the case and report the same 
to the Consistory for its judgment. The decision of the Con- 
sistory shall be final, unless an appeal be taken therefrom to the 
Sovereign Grand Consistory, in the same manner as laid down in 
Article IV. 



40 


The Grand Constitutions 


ARTICLE VI. 

Trials , by Whom Conducted. 

In all cases of Masonic trials in a Subordinate Consistory the 
prosecution shall be in charge of the Grand Chancellor, unless he 
be an interested party ; in such case, the Commander-in-Chief 
shall appoint a Brother to act in his stead. The accused shall be 
entitled to be represented by counsel, but such counsel must be 
a Scottish Rite Mason not lower in rank than the Thirty-second 
Degree. 

ARTICLE VII. 

Expense of Trial. 

The strictly necessary expenses of commissions for the trial 
of cases referred to them shall be paid by the Consistory, or one 
or all the parties litigant, as the Commissioners may determine, 
and, in the case of individuals, be charged and collected as dues. 


TITLE XI. 

Members of the Supreme Council Cannot Receive 
Salaries—Assistant Grand Officers. 

ARTICLE I. 

A member of the Supreme Council shall not be allowed to 
receive a salary from the funds of the Sovereign Grand Consis¬ 
tory for the performance of the duties of his office. 

ARTICLE II. 

At each annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consis¬ 
tory the Supreme Council shall elect, by a majority vote, an As¬ 
sistant Grand Secretary and a Deputy Grand Master of Cer- 
monies. 

ARTICLE III. 

It shall be the duty of the Assistant Grand Secretary, under 
the direction of the Grand Secretary General H.\ K.\, to attend 




and General Regulations. 


4i 


to all of the clerical labors appertaining to his office. It shall also 
be his duty to be present at the office of the Grand Secretary 
General H.\ E ’. during office hours. 

ARTICLE IV. 

When the Grand Master General of Ceremonies finds it in¬ 
convenient to attend to duties requiring his presence at points 
distant from his home, it shall be the duty of the Deputy Grand 
Master of Ceremonies, under the direction of the M.\ P.\ Sov¬ 
ereign Grand Commander, to attend to such duties. It shall 
also be his duty, when not otherwise engaged in the service of 
the Rite, to be present at the office of the Grand Secretary 
General during office hours. 

ARTICLE V. 

For the faithful performance of their duties, the Assistant 
Grand Secretary and Deputy Grand Master of Ceremonies shall 
receive such compensation as may be determined upon by the 
Supreme Council. 

ARTICLE VI. 

Should the Assistant Grand Secretary or Deputy Grand 
Master of Ceremonies refuse or neglect to perform their several 
duties, charges may be preferred against them to the Supreme 
Council by any member of the Rite. After a careful and impar¬ 
tial hearing, the accused being duly notified and having had 
ample opportunity to defend himself, and each member of the 
Supreme Council having been made fully acquainted with all the 
facts in the case ; the Supreme Council, by the affirmative vote 
of six of its members, may declare the office of the accused 
vacant, and elect another to serve during the balance of the term. 

ARTICLE VII. 

No one shall be eligible to fill the office of Assistant Grand 
Secretary or Deputy Grand Master of Ceremonies, except he is a 
member of the Sov.*. Grand Consistory. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

The office of the Grand Secretary General H.\ E.\ shall be 


42 


The Grand Constihitions 


opened daily, Sundays and legal holidays excepted, during such 
hours as may be determined upon by the Supreme Council. 


TITLE XII. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

ARTICLE I. 

Rendezvous , when Held. 

The annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Consistory 
shall be convened on the 24th day of June, except when the same 
shall fall upon Saturday or Sunday, in which case it shall be con¬ 
vened on the following Monday. 

ARTICLE II. 

Charge for Patents. 

The charge for letters patent shall be five dollars for the 
Thirty-third Degree and three dollars for the Thirty-second De¬ 
gree. 

ARTICLE III. 

Per Capita Tax . 

The per capita tax shall be fifty cents for each member 
whose name shall appear upon the rolls of Consistories under 
this jurisdiction, at each annual rendezvous. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Signature to Oath of Fealty. 

The Commander-in-Chief of every Consistory under this 
jurisdiction shall require of each candidate, as soon as he shall 
have received one of the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted 
Scottish Rite, an oath of fealty to this jurisdiction, and to which 
he shall attach his signature, in a book provided especially for 
the purpose. 

ARTICLE V. 

Applications Must Lie Over. 

Every candidate for degrees in bodies under this jurisdiction 



and General Regulations. 


43 


must be proposed at a stated rendezvous, and the petition referred 
to a committee for investigation, who shall report at a subsequent 
rendezvous, when the candidate shall be balloted for. A com¬ 
mittee of investigation on the petition of a candidate shall not be 
allowed to report favorably until they can properly avouch for 
him as being a Master Mason in good standing. 

ARTICLE VI. 

Rituals. 

All rituals of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite used 
by any one under this jurisdiction shall emanate from the 
Supreme Council, attested by the seal thereof, with the certifi¬ 
cate of the Illustrious Grand Secretary General. 

ARTICLE VII. 

Subordinate Bodies , How Opened. 

Every Subordinate Body under this jurisdiction shall open 
and close its works according to the following formula: “To 
the Glory of the Supreme Architect of the Universe, in the name 
and under the authority of the Sovereign Grand Consistory and 
its Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, 
Thirty-third and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scot¬ 
tish Rite, as organized by the Ill.*. Bro.\ Joseph Cerneau in the 
City of New York, in the year 1807, for the United States of 
America, its Territories and Dependencies, and now presided 

over by the Most Illustrious-(here use the name of the 

Sov.\ Gd.\ Com.'.) as Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Com¬ 
mander, I declare (here mention the name of the body) opened 
(or closed as the case may be). 

ARTICLE VIII. 

The initiation of candidates in the several degrees under the 
authority of a Subordinate Consistory, or admission to member¬ 
ship therein, shall be by unanimous consent expressed by secret 
ballot. 

ARTICLE IX. 

Every Chapter of Rose Croix is recommended to meet on 
Holy Thursday (the Paschal Feast), Easter Sunday, Pentecost 



44 


The Grand Constitutions 


Day, All Saints’ Day, and the two feasts of St. John the Baptist 
and St. John the Evangelist. 

ARTICLE X. 

If any Subordinate Consistory be temporarily interdicted or 
dissolved, the Commander-in-Chief shall forthwith deposit its 
charter, rituals (whether in manuscript or print), statutes, docu¬ 
ments, records, rules, regulations, property and all papers apper¬ 
taining to the Body, with the Inspector of the District, if there 
be one, or with the Supreme Council; and the same shall be 
safely deposited in the archives thereof. 

ARTICLE XI. 

The Grand Secretary General H. \ E.*. shall duly notify each 
Subordinate Consistory of the Organization of each new Consis¬ 
tory, giving the name and number of the Consistory, where 
located, place and time of meeting, names of the officers and the 
post-office address of the Commander and Grand Secretary. He 
shall also notify each newly organized Consistory and furnish it 
with similar information relative to all Subordinate Consistories 
under this jurisdiction. 

ARTICLE XII. 

The Sovereign Grand Commander, at least thirty days prior 
to each annual rendezvous of the Sovereign Grand Con¬ 
sistory, shall appoint a committee of three members of the Sov¬ 
ereign Grand Consistory, who shall carefully examine the books 
and accounts of the Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer Gen¬ 
erals H.\ E.‘. and report thereon in writing at the annual ren¬ 
dezvous. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

A member of a Subordinate Consistory having signed a pe¬ 
tition for the organization of a new Consistory, the same having 
been granted and the new Consistory duly instituted, such 
Brother’s membership in the older Consistory shall cease as soon 
as he shall have paid all his indebtedness thereto and duly noti¬ 
fied the older Consistory in writing, over his own signature, 
through its Grand Secretary, of his action. In all cases of this 


and General Regulations. 


45 


kind the amount of indebtedness of the Brother proposing to af¬ 
filiate with the new Consistory, shall be computed to the date of 
the institution of such new Consistory. The Grand Secretary of 
the older Consistory having received a notice of this kind, shall 
read the same to his Consistory at its first regular rendezvous 
thereafter ; whereupon the Commander-in-Chief, having definitely 
ascertained that the Brother has fully complied with all of the 
requirements of the Constitution and General Regulations, shall 
immediately declare a dimit granted and order the Grand Sec¬ 
retary to forward the same to the new Consistory. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

A Brother desiring to dimit from a Subordinate Consistory 
must pay all of his indebtedness thereto and make due applica¬ 
tion in writing, over his own signature, at a regular rendezvous 
of his Consistory. The Grand Secretary on receipt of such ap¬ 
plication shall read the same to the Consistory, whereupon the 
Commander-in-Chief, having definitely ascertained that the 
Brother has fully complied with all of the requirements of the Con¬ 
stitution and General Regulations, shall immediately declare the 
dimit granted and order the Grand Secretary to forward the same 
to the applicant. 

ARTICLE XV. 

Section i .—Authority for obtaining names for the organiza¬ 
tion of a new Consistory shall be issued only by the Grand Secre¬ 
tary General H.‘. E. and then only by the authority of a writ¬ 
ten order from the Sovereign Grand Commander, who shall for¬ 
ward to the Grand Secretary General the name, address, and Ma¬ 
sonic rank of the Brother to whom authority is to be given, also 
by whom recommended, together with all the evidence he may 
have as to the responsibility and character of the applicant for 
said authority. The Grand Secretary General H.\ E.\, before 
issuing such authority, shall duly record, in a book especially 
provided for the purpose, all of the above facts, together with 
the date under which the authority is issued. 

Section 2.—In each instance when authority, as above refer¬ 
red to, has been issued, the Grand Secretary General H.\ E.’. 


46 


The Grand Constitutions 


shall duly notify the Subordinate Consistory, located in the same 
State or Territory, nearest to the proposed location of the new 
Consistory. 

ARTICLE XVI. 

A Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third Degree, 
upon visiting any of the bodies of the Ancient and Accepted 
Scottish Rite, and being clothed with the insignia of his high 
grade, shall be invited by the presiding officer to a seat in the 
Orient. 

ARTICLE XVII. 

In newly organized Consistories the term of office of the first 
set of officers shall expire one year from the month of January 
next succeeding the date of instituting 

The term of office of the first set of officers of the appendant 
bodies of such Consistories shall expire on the Constitutional 
Jewish dates occurring nearest to the month of January in the 
same year in which the term of the officers of the Consistory to 
to which they are attached expires. 


Index to Constitution and General Regulations. 


Active Sovereign Grand Inspectors General. IV. 

“ “ “ “ “ Duties of. 

“ “ u “ “ Term of office.. 

“ “ “ “ “ Must make re¬ 
ports . 

“ “ “ “ “ How appointed. 

“ “ “ “ “ Who they repre¬ 
sent. 

“ “ “ “ “ When members 

of Supreme 
Council are. . 

Amendments to Constitution, How offered. VIII. 

“ “ “ How passed by Sov. •. Grand 

Consistory. “ 

“ “ “ Duty of Grand Secretary as to. “ 

“ “ “ “ Sov.-.Grand Com.-.as to “ 

“ “ “ Supreme Council must approve “ 

“ “ “ Within what time. “ 

“ “ Objections stated, if not ap¬ 
proved. “ 

“ “ “ Mode of procedure if not ap¬ 
proved by Supreme Council.. “ 

Amendments fo General Regulations, how offered and passed “ 

Assistant Grand Secretary, His duties. XI. 

“ “ “ How elected. “ 

“ “ “ Compensation of. “ 

“ “ “ Liable to removal, and how. “ 

w “ “ Who eligible to office of. “ 

Candidates, How proposed. XII. 

“ When committee on, may report. “ 

“ When balloted for. “ 

“ Must be avouched for. “ 

“ How elected. “ 

Captain of the Guard (Grand), His duties. IV. 

Consistory, Sovereign Grand, Of whom composed. I. 

“ “ “ Powers of. II. 

“ “ “ Officers of and rank.. II. 

“ “ “ “ “ how elected. II. 

* “ “ “ “ “ who and when ap¬ 
pointed . II. 


ARTICLE. PAGE. 

I. I7-I8 


V. I -IX. 23-25 


I. 


35 


I- 35 

I- 35 

II- 35-36 

II- 35 

III- 35 


II. 

II. 

IV. 
III. 

II. 

V. 
VI. 

VII. 

V. 

V. 

V. 

V. 

VIII. 

IX. 

II. 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 


35 

35-36 

36 
40-41 

40 

41 
4i 
4i 

42-43 

43 

43 

43 

43 

22 

7 

8 
8 
9 




























48 


Index to Constitution and General Regulations . 





TITLE. 

ARTICLE. 

. PAGE. 

Consistory, Sovereign 

Grand, Its legislative powers supreme 

II. 

V. 

9 

( l 

44 

“ Shall hold annual meeting.. . . 

44 

VI. 

9 

ti 

<< 

“ Where meetings may be held. 

44 

VII. 

9 

<< 

<< 

“ When and How special meet- 






ings. 

44 

VI. 

9 

( < 

44 

“ What may be done at special 






meeting of . 

4 4 

VI. 

9 

<« 

44 

“ Who may and may not vote in 

<4 

VIII. 

IO 

i < 

44 

“ Who are entitled to member- 






ship in the . 

44 

IX. 

IO 

14 

4 4 

“ Its jurisdiction, original and 






appellate . 

44 

XI. 

ii 

44 

44 

“ Who represent Subordinate 






Consistory in .. 

4< 

XIII. 

12 

44 

4 4 

“ When Representatives not en- 






titled to vote . 

44 

XIV. 

12 

4' 

44 

“ Who can be proxies in the ... 

44 

XV. 

12-13 

*« 

4 C 

‘ ‘ Proxies How appointed . 

4 4 

44 

13 

44 

4 4 

“ Proxies How authenticated. .. 

44 

44 

13 

44 

44 

“ Officers of entitled to vote in. . 

44 

XVI. 

13 

44 

44 

11 Annual time of meeting fixed.. 

XII. 

I. 

42 

4 4 

Subordinate 

, Of whom composed. 

I. 

V. 

8 

4 4 

44 

How opened and closed. { . 

XII. 

VII. 

43 

44 

44 

Officers of and rank. 

VII. 

I. 

26-27 

44 

<4 

Officers of how elected and appointed 

VII. 

II. 

27 

4 4 

44 

Cost of charter for.. 

VI. 

III. 

26 

4 4 

44 

Lodge of Perfection Degrees. 

VII. 

4 4 

27 

4< 

4 4 

Council of Princes Degrees. 

44 

44 

28 

4 i 

44 

Chapter of Rose Croix Degrees. 

44 

44 

28 

4 4 

4< 

Consistory Degrees. 

4 i 

44 

28 

44 

44 

Chapter of Rose Croix, officers, rank 






style. 

44 

IV. 

78 

4 ( 

44 

Chapter of Rose Croix, officers, when 






elected, etc. 

44 

<< 

29 

44 

4 4 

Chapter of Rose Croix, powers over 






degrees. 

4 4 

44 

29 

44 

44 

Council of Princes, officers, rank and 






style. 

44 

V. 

29 

44 

44 

Council of Princes, officers, when 






elected, etc. 

4 4 

44 

29 

44 

44 

Council of Princes, powers over de¬ 






grees . 

4 4 

4 4 

29 

44 

44 

Lodge of Perfection, officers, rank 






and style. 

44 

VI. 

30 

;4 

44 

Lodge of Perfection, officers, when 






elected, etc.... 

4 4 

41 

3° 

























Index to Constitution and General Regulations. 


49 


Consistory Subordinate, Lodge of Perfection, 

degrees . 


powers over 


Initiation fee fixed. 

How often must meet. 

Special meetings, how called. 

Commander-in-Chief, duties of .. 
Commander-in-Chief absent, who acts 
Term of officers of newly instituted 

Installation of officers, when. 

Vacancies in and how filled.. 

Officers who cannot resign. 

Members entitled to patent.. 

Patents, how signed. 

Quorum, who make. 

J udicial powers of. 

Appeal from, how and to whom. 
Money returns of, when and how... 
Grand Secretary of, his duties. 


If dissolved, etc., to surrender char 


Duties of. 


Declarations of our claims and authority. 


Lieutenant Grand Commander, is Acting M.\ P.-., when. 


Duties of Deputy. 

Compensation of Deputy.... 
Deputy may be removed, and 

how.. 

Who eligible to office of 
Deputy. 


TITLE. 

ARTICLE. 

PAGE. 

VII. 

VI. 

30 

H 

VII. 

30-31 

4 4 


31 

i t 

VIII. 

31 

4 4 

IX. 

31 

t< 

XI. 

31 

4 4 

X. 

31 

4 4 

XII. 

31-32 

XII. 

XVII. 

46 

VII. 

XIII. 

32 

“XV-XVI. 

32 

i 4 

XIV. 

32 

4 4 

XVII. 

32 

44 

XVIII. 

33 

4 4 

XIX. 

33 

4 4 

XX. 

33 

4 4 

XXL 

33 

4 4 

XXII. 

33 

4 4 

XXIII 

33-34 

XII. 

VIII. 

43 

tXII. 

IX. 

43-44 

XII. 

X. 

44 

V. 

IX. 

25 

V. 

X. 

25 

V. 

XI 

25 


XIII. 

4-5 

XII. 


44-45 

XII. 

XIV. 

45 

I. 

IV. 

7 

I. 

IV. 

7 

XII. 

XII. 

44 

I. 

I. 

7 

IV. 

I. 

18 

IV. 

II. 

19 

IV. 

VI. 

21 

IV. 

VII. 

22 

XI. 

II. 

40 

4 4 

IV. 

4i 

4 4 

V. 

4i 

4 4 

VI. 

4i 

4 4 

VII. 

4i 





































50 


Index to Constitution and General Regulations . 



TITLE. 

ARTICLE 

. PAGE. 

New Consistories, how petitions for obtained . 

XII. 

XV. 

45-46 

Oath of fealty, when signed... 

XII. 

IV. 

42 

Officers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 

II. 

II. 

8 

Officers of Subordinate Consistories. 

VII. 

I. 

26-27 

Orator (Grand) and Minister of State, duties of. 

IV. 

III. 

19 

Preamble . 

Proxy for Representatives. 

II. 

XV. 

4- ' 
12-13 

Proxy, how authenticated. 

i 4 

1 4 4 

13 

Proxy, who is eligible. . 

“ 

4 4 

13 

Patent, charge for. 

XII. 

II. 

42 

Patents, how signed. 

VII. 

XVIII. 

33 

Patents, every member entitled to. 

VII. 

XVII. 

3 2 

Per capita tax. 

XII. 

III. 

42 

Revenue, how derived. 

VI. 

I.-IV. 

25-26 

Revenue, how collected. 

VI. 

IV. 

26 

Rituals, how obtained and attested. 

XII. 

VI. 

43 

Secretary General (Grand), duties of. 

IV. 

IV. 

19-21 

“ “ All letters, etc., must be addressed to. . . 

4 4 

(4 

20 

“ “ Must report annuallv.. 

4 t 

4 4 

20 

“ “ Must keep a “ Black Book ”. 

t i 

4 4 

20 

“ Must keep a registry, and of what. 

44 

44 

20-21 

“ *• Must make a duplicate. 

44 

44 

21 

“ “ Duties on organization of new bodies. . . . 

XII. 

XI. 

44 

“ Must transmit all books, etc., to successor 

IV. 

IV. 

21 

Sov.\ Grand Com.’. (M.\ P.\), duties of. 

IV. 

I 

17-19 

11 “ “ Fills vacancies in Supreme Council. .. . 

III. 

XVII. 

16 

“ “ “ Appoints Active Inspectors General... 

IV. 

I. 

17-18 

“ “ Grants dispensations, when and how.. 

4 4 

44 

17 

“ “ “ Decisions binding until reversed. 

4 4 

44 

17 

“ “ “ Reports to Council at each meeting . . . 

4 4 

4 4 

17 

“ “ “ Appoints foreign representatives.. 

4 4 

4 4 

18 

“ “ “ May suspend members of Council. 

4 4 

4 4 

18 

“ “ “ Charges, how preferred against. . 

(4 

4 4 

18 

“ “ “ How suspended. . 

4 4 

4 4 

18 

“ “ “ Lieutenant Grand,becomes acting, when 

4 4 

II. 

>9 

“ “ “ “ Acts as, when. 

14 

I. 

18 

“ “ May suspend Com •.-in-Chief of Subor¬ 
dinate Consistories, when.. 

4 i 

44 

19 

“ “ “ Shall appoint commission to try. 

X. 

4 ( 

38 

Sov.’. Grand Ins.-. Gen.-, are members of Sow. Gd.-. Con.-. 

11. 

VIII. 

10 

“ Honors on visitation, due to. 

XII. 

XVI. 

46 

“ Charges against, how preferred, etc. 

II. 

XII. 

11-12 

“ “ “ “ Elected to Council, vacates any 

other offices. 

III. 

XIX. 

16-17 





































Index to Constitution and General Regulations. 


5i 


TITLE. ARTICLE. 

Sov.*. Grand Ins.*. Gen.*. Grade, how conferred. IX. I.-VII. 

“ “ “ Fee for. “ II. 

“ “ “ Com. *.-in-Chief entitled to without 

fee. “ III. 

“ “ “ “ Supreme Council may confer on 

in New Consistory. “ III. 

“ “ “ “ Supreme Council may confer by 

unanimous consent . “ IV. 

“ “ “ “ Subordinate Consistory may select, 

when, but action must be ap¬ 
proved by Sovereign Grand Con¬ 
sistory. “ V. 

“ “ “ “ Balloted for by Sov.*. Grand Con¬ 
sistory, and how elected. “ VI. 

“ “ “ “ Must be approved by Supreme 

Council... “ “ 

“ “ “ “ All elections for, must be by secret 

ballot. “ VII. 

Standard Bearer, Grand, his duties. IV. VIII. 

Seneschal, Grand, his duties. “ X. 

Sentinel, Grand, his duties. “ “ 

Supreme Council, members of. I. III. 

“ “ Who compose. II “ 

“ “ Has executive and judicial powers. III. I. 

“ When has executive powers of Sov *. Grand 

Consistory. “ II. 

“ “ Powers of, defined . “ III. 

“ “ May delegate power. “ IV. 

“ “ Its duties specified. ‘‘ V. 

“ “ Is the court of judicial appeal. “ VI. 

“ “ When shall meet. “ VII. 

“ *‘ Its quorum. “ VIII. 

“ “ Special meetings, how called. “ IX. 

“ “ Notice of meetings. “ XI. 

“ “ Has control of all correspondence. “ XII. 

“ “ Each member has but one vote. “ XIII. 

“ “ What matters require a majority vote and 

what not. “ XIV. 

“ “ Reversal on appeal requires nine votes.... “ “ 

“ “ Its decision binding until, when. “ XV. 

“ “ Its duties as to Subordinate Consistories.. “ XVI. 

“ “ Vacancies in, how filled. “ XVII. 

“ “ Where its regular meetings must be held.. “ XVIII. 

“ Its Finance Committee and duties of same “ X. 

“ Cannot receive a salary.XI. I. 

“ Shall elect Assistant Grand Secretary and 

Deputy Grand Master of Ceremonies- “ II. 


PAGE. 

36-38 
3 6 

3 6 

36 


37 

37 

37 

38 
22 
22 
22 

7 

9 

13 

13 

H 

14 

H 

14 

H 

H 

15 
15 
15 
iS 

15 

15-16 

16 
16 
16 
16 

15 

40 

40 

































52 


Index to Constitution and General Regulations. 


Tax, each member initiated pays $5 . 

TITLE. 

VI. 

ARTICLE. 

IV. 

PAGE. 

26 

“ Per capita. 

XII. 

III. 

42 

Treasurer General, his duties . 

IV. 

V. 

21 

Trustees, who are, how elected, and duties. 

II. 

X. 

IO 

Trials and appeals in Sov •. Grand Consistory regulated. 

X. 

I.-VII. 

38-40 

“ Commission, how appointed. 

u 

I. 

3 8 

“ Must be to hear and determine. 

44 

4 4 

38 

“ Charges to be served on accused. 

4 4 

II. 

38 

“ Summons served on accused. 

ii 

ii 

38 

‘‘ Commissioners to report result and give notice of their 
findings . 

i 4 

III. 

38 

“ Their decision final, unless appeal taken . 

ii 

IV. 

38-39 

“ Appeal, how, to whom taken. 

i 4 

44 

39 

“ Accused and accuser entitled to counsel . 

‘ 4 

i 4 

39 

“ Subordinate Consistories, in . . 

4 4 

4 4 

38-39 

“ Subordinate Consistory, how conducted . 

w 

V. 

39 

“ Subordinate Consistories, who has charge of . 

4 4 

VI. 

40 

“ Expenses of. 

4 i 

VII. 

40 




















SUPREME COXnSTCTU 

AND 

OFFICERS of m SOVEREIGN GRAND CONSISTORY 

OF 

SOVEREIGN GRAND INSPECTORS GENERAL, 

THIRTY-THIRD AND LAST DEGREE, 

OF THE 

Ancient Accented Scottish Rite masonry, 

AS ORGANIZED BY 

T.-.I. '.JOSEPH CERNEAU, M. \P. \S. \G. \C. \ 

OCTOBER 27, 1807, 

FOR THE 

United States of America, its Territories and Dependencies. 


Most Illustrious Wheeler Cable, 33°, Most Puissant Sovereign Grand 
Commander, Boston, Mass. 

Very Illustrious George Davis, 33°, Puissant Lieutenant Grand Com¬ 
mander, Charleston, W. Va. 

Very Illustrious Elias H. Bartley, M. D., 33°, Grand Orator and Min¬ 
ister of State, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Very Illustrious William H. Sutton, 33°,' Grand Secretary General, 
H.'.E.u, Brooklyn, N.Y. * 

Very Illustrious John H. Bussell, 33°, Grand Treasurer General, H.\ 
E.\, New York, N. Y. 

Very Illustrious Cornelius H. Benson, 33°, Grand Marshal General, 
Jersey City, N. J. 

Very Illustrious James L. Watson, 83°, Grand Master General of Cere¬ 
monies, Lexington, Ky. 

Very Illustrious George R. CofEroth, 33°, Grand Standard Bearer, 
Baltimore, Md- 

Very Illustrious John P. Steffner, 33°, Grand Captain of the Guard, 
Chattanooga, Tenn. 

Illustrious Edward G. Bangs, 33°, Grand Seneschal, Lenox, Mass., 

Illustrious George W. Davis, 33°, Grand Sentinel, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

TRUSTEES. 

M ’.IH. - . Wheeler Cable, 33°. V.'.Ill.. George Davis, 33°. 

V.\I11.\ Elias H. Bartley, M. D.,33°. Ill.'. Benjamin W. Browne, 33°. 

Ill.*. David Randell, 33°. 

ASSISTANT GRAND OFFICERS. 

V.'. Ill.'. James S. Fraser, 33°, Assistant Grand Secretary, New York, 
N. Y. 

V.'. Ill. *. James McGrath, 33°, Deputy Grand Master of Ceremonies, 
Jersey City, N. J. 


1893—1894. 




Active Sovereign Grand Inspectors General. 

V.*.Ill.-.Geo. Davis, 33 °, for the State of West Virginia. 

V.-.Ill.-.Wm. H. Sutton, 33 0 , for the State of New York. 

V.-.Ill.-.Cornelius H. Benson, 33 0 , for the State of New Jersey. 

V.-.Ill.-.James L. Watson, 33 0 , for the State of Kentucky. 

V.-.Ill.-.George R. Coffroth, 33 0 , for the State of Maryland. 

V.-.Ill.-.John P. Steffner, 33 0 , for the States of Virginia and Tennessee. 

V.-.Ill.-.William Marshall, 33 0 , for the State of Delaware. 

Ill.-.Charles Bowman, 33 0 , for the State of Pennsylvania. 

Ill.-.Wm. E. Hill, 33 0 , for the State, of Nebraska. 

Ill.-.Wm. F. Krull, 33 0 , for the State of Missouri. 

Ill. *.C. A. Conkling, 33 0 , for the State of Kansas. 

Ill.-.S, S. Harvey, 33 0 , for the State of Florida. 

Ill.-.H. De F. Young, 33 0 , for the States of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont 
Ill.-.Benjamin W. Browne, 33 0 , for the District of Columbia. 

1893—1894. 

Members Emeriti and Past Grand Officers. 

M.-.I11.-.F. J. S. Gorgas, M. D., 33 0 , Past Sov.-.Gd.-.Com.-. &M.-. E.-. 

M.-.I11.- Philip F. D. Hibbs, 33 0 , Past Sov.-. Gd.-. Com.-. & M.-.E.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.Ben. J. C. Leveridge, 33 °, Past Gd.-.O.-. & Min.-, of S.-. & M.-.E.\ 

V.*.111.-.George Davis, 33 0 , M.-.E.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.Cyrus O. Hubbell, 33 0 , Past Gd.-.Treas -.Gen.-. & M.-.E.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.Alfred G. Hastings, 33 0 , Past P.-.Lt.-.Gd.-.Com.-. & M.-.E.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.James S. Fraser, 33 0 , Past Gd.-.Sec.-.Gen.-. & M.-.E.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.Andrew J. Provost, 33 0 , Past Gd.-.Sec.-.Gen.-. & M.-.E.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.John H Russell, 33 0 , M. -.E.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.James McGrath, 33 0 , Past Gd.*.Mas.-.Gen.-, of C.\ & M.-.E.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.Wm. Marshall, 33 0 , Past Gd.-.Mar.-.Gen.-. & M.-.E.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.Elias H. Bartley, M. D., 33 0 , M.-.E.-. 

V.-.I11.-.J. Thompson Brown, 33 0 , Past Gd.-.Capt.-. of the G. . & M.-.E.-. 

V.-.I11. *.W. H. H. Lynn, 33 0 , Past Gd.-.Capt.-. of the G.\ 

V.-.Ill.-.James M. Saffell, 33 0 , Past Gd.-.Mas.-.Gen.-, of C.-. 

V.-.Ill.-.John Edelstein, 33 0 , Past Gd -.Mar.• Gen.-. & M.-.E.*. 

V.-.Ill.-.Edgar L. Bradley, 33 0 , Past Gd.-.Mar.-.Gen.-. & M.-.E.-. 

Ill.-. Alexander McLean, 33 0 , Past Grand Seneschal. 

111.-. Alexander W. Murray, 33 0 , Past Grand Sentinel. 


1893—1894. 


LIST OF 


Sovereign Grand Commanders, 

1807-1893. 


Most Illustrious Joseph Cerneau, 33°, 1807-1821. 

Most Illustrious John W. Mulligan, 33°, 1821-1823, also 1844-1845. 
Most Illustrious De Witt Clinton, 33°, 1823-1825, also to 1828. 
Most Illustrious The Marquis De Lafayette, 33°, 1825. 

Most Illustrious Elias Hicks, 33°, 1828-1844. 

Most Illustrious Henry C. Atwood, 33°, 1845-1851, also 1852-1800. 
Most Illustrious Jeremy L. Cross, 33°, 1851-1852. 

Most Illustrious Edmund B. Hays, 33®, 1860-1872. 

Most Illustrious Harry J. Seymour, 33®, 1872-1880. 

Most Illustrious Wm. H. Peckham, 33®, 1880-1887. 

Most Illustrious Ferdinand J. S. Gorgas, M. D., 33°, 1887-1890. 
Most Illustrious Philip F. D. Hibbs, 33°, 1890-1893. 

Most Hlustrious Wheeler Cable, 33°, 1893- 










































